Hyundai unveils new hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle concept

Hyundai Motor Company has unveiled its INITIUM hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) concept at its ‘Clearly Committed’ event held at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang.

INITIUM is a Latin word meaning ‘beginning’ or ‘first’, representing Hyundai Motor’s status as a hydrogen energy pioneer and its commitment to develop a hydrogen society. The concept provides a preview of a new production FCEV that Hyundai Motor plans to unveil in the first half of next year.

The hydrogen fuel cell-powered SUV concept also marks the debut of Hyundai Motor’s new design language – called ‘Art of Steel’ – embodying the character of HTWO, Hyundai Motor Group’s dedicated hydrogen value chain business brand.

“Hyundai Motor’s clear, unwavering commitment to hydrogen over the past 27 years is rooted in our belief in its potential as a clean, accessible and therefore fair energy source for everyone,” says Jaehoon Chang, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. “We are dedicated to pioneering a future where hydrogen is used by everyone, in everything, and everywhere. We invite you to join us on this journey.”

Hyundai Motor launched its HTWO hydrogen value chain business brand earlier this year at CES 2024, highlighting how Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung is focusing the Group’s efforts on hydrogen energy.

Unveiling the vision for HTWO Grid – an end-to-end hydrogen energy solution that spans production, storage, transportation and utilization – Executive Chair Chung expressed the Group’s commitment to actively participate in the development of a hydrogen society and underscored the Group’s capabilities to achieve this goal, highlighting that “The shift to hydrogen energy is for future generations.”

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At the unveiling, SangYup Lee, executive vice president and head of Hyundai and Genesis Global Design, presented the INITIUM concept and Hyundai’s new ‘Art of Steel’ design language.

"Our challenge began from the manufacturing stage, where we pushed the formability of steel to the extreme to create a form of art," Lee says. “With INITIUM, we’ve crafted a more SUV-like design that is both solid and safe, reflecting our dedication to our customers through 'customer-centric design’.”

INITIUM’s development focused on three primary aspects: superior driving range and enhanced performance, which are key strengths of hydrogen cars; a spacious interior and luggage area, making it ideal for families; and unique convenience and safety features distinctive to hydrogen cars.

One of the biggest advantages of a hydrogen FCEV is impressive driving range and the flexibility this brings. With INITIUM, Hyundai Motor has equipped the concept with large hydrogen fuel tanks to maximize the vehicle’s range, enhancing the benefits of hydrogen FCEVs.

Hyundai Motor has also fitted INITIUM with aerodynamic wheels to reduce drag wrapped in low rolling resistance tires, for a targeted driving range of more than 650km between refueling.

© Hyundai Motor Group | https://www.hyundai.com

As for performance, INITIUM offers excellent acceleration and smooth overtaking capability. By further developing Hyundai’s fuel cell technology the company has increased the output of the stack and enhanced battery capacity, allowing for an electric motor output of up to 150kW. This ensures drivers experience smooth driving in urban areas and at higher speeds on highways.

INITIUM includes a FCEV-specific route planner that addresses one of the biggest pain points for FCEV buyers: charging infrastructure. With this feature, users can easily plot an optimal route, finding charging stations along the way without having to access a separate app or make a phone call. Users can check the location accessibility and operating status of an identified charging station, as well as the number of waiting vehicles and therefore the possibility of charging.

In addition, INITIUM’s hydrogen fuel cell provides electricity without emitting any pollutants. This electricity can be used to power and charge various household appliances and personal devices via the concept’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) feature. Notably, the outdoor terminal is designed to connect directly to a 220V household outlet, transforming INITIUM from a means of transportation into a potential energy supplier.

INITIUM has been developed to achieve collision safety and driving safety performance globally. To ensure ample safety for passengers in the event of a collision, the vehicle is reinforced with a multi-skeleton structure at the front, as well as a side body structure, and incorporates nine airbags, ensuring world-class collision safety performance.

Hyundai Motor plans to showcase INITIUM at the Los Angeles Auto Show and Auto Guangzhou in November. The production version of the INITIUM concept is set to launch in the first half of 2025.